Labor's Commitment To Our Princes Highway Lacklustre And Late

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP and Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock MP have said that they welcome any commitment to fund upgrades to the Princes Highway but that Labor couldn’t be trusted to deliver on their promises. In fact today’s statement commits Labor to less than half of what the Liberals & Nationals will deliver.

Mr Ward said: “One of the reasons I stood for Parliament was to fix the Princes Highway. I went into politics to get things done," he said.

“Labor have no credibility on deliver Princes Highway upgrades. NSW Labor talking about the Princes Highway is like Hannibal Lecter lecturing on vegetarian cuisine.

“The Liberals & Nationals have committed $2.4 billion to upgrade the Princes Highway – $960 million is less than half of our Princes Highway package.

“Whilst the Shadow Treasurer is trying to claim he has matched our Princes Highway commitment I would have thought even he would understand that $960 million is not $2.4 billion.

“Just like Federal Labor’s commitment of $50 million for the Shoalhaven River bridge a future Labor government would short change the people of the South Coast by more than $1 billion.

“We welcome all commitments to the Princes Highway but today’s “commitment” is a slap in the face,” Mr Ward said.

The Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said:

“We welcome the commitment by the Labor Party who after a decade of neglect have made their first announcement to substantially upgrade the Princes Highway,” she said.  

“NSW Labor had 16 years in government and three failed South Coast candidates but we are glad to see them come to the table 24 years later and less than two weeks out from a State Election.

“They’ve proven time and time again that they can’t be trusted to deliver on their commitments.

“They’ve had eight years in opposition, eight budget reply speeches which failed to mention the Princes Highway, and three years of a shadow treasurer from the region who failed to commit a cent to the Princes Highway and could only snipe from the sidelines, and finally they are on a joint ticket with the NSW Government.

“In contrast the NSW Liberals & Nationals have proven that we will get it done, we will and have delivered upgrades to the Princes Highway.

“With upgrades completed at Gerringong, Burrill Lake, Termeil Creek, South Nowra and the Foxground and Berry bypasses – two projects Labor promised in government, and failed to deliver – and work proceeding right now at Albion Park Rail, the Berry to Bomaderry upgrade and Nowra Bridge you know when we say we’re going to do something we get it done.

“We have already completed or committed to $2.5 billion in works along the Princes Highway and an additional $960 million to upgrade from Jervis Bay Road to Sussex Inlet Road. This equates to $2.4 billion over the forward estimates," Mrs Hancock concluded.